Adopting a Cockapoo or Cavapoo in London: rescues, costs and health

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Cockapoo listed with us in London and within about 35 miles, with a link to the rescue that has each dog. Cavapoos have their own page, and the poodle and doodle page lists every poodle cross.

In Dogs Trust's words, a Cockapoo is a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle, and its Cavalier guide calls a Cavapoo a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. Neither is on The Royal Kennel Club's Breeds A to Z, so neither has a breed standard. Its crossbreed guide says crossbreeds often mix their parents' traits, and that it is often "difficult to predict what the puppies will look like or what their temperament will be".

Rescues often list both as poodle crosses, and labels on rescue listings are a best guess. That matters less than it seems: what tells you whether a dog suits you is how it behaves, which the rescue or foster carer already knows.

Battersea says people can underestimate the time and training Cockapoos need, "which is why they're often given up", and that they're "not the low-maintenance family dog they're sometimes pictured as". Doodle Trust goes further about doodles in general: "many of the myths that made them popular are the same reasons so many end up abandoned".

The myths it means are about coats, allergies and time. Battersea says Cockapoos are not hypoallergenic, need daily brushing plus a professional groom every six to eight weeks, and that separation anxiety is common. Doodle Trust says many doodles are "Velcro dogs who want to be with you, not left alone".

A rescue fee usually covers neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations, and many rescues add a few weeks' insurance: Pro Dogs Direct includes four weeks' free pet insurance. Buying puts those costs on you, and Blue Cross puts a puppy at £400 to £3,000. Each rescue sets its own fee: Foal Farm Animal Rescue charges £150 to £350 for a dog, depending on age, and Pro Dogs Direct sets a minimum adoption donation for each dog.

The bigger cost comes later. Battersea warns that ear and skin problems can mean regular medication, and digestive issues ongoing costs for medication and specialist food. Price insurance and a groomer before you apply.

A cross can inherit problems from either parent, so The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide says breeders should consider all the health tests for both breeds. A rescue doodle's parents may never have been tested, so ask what the rescue's vet has found.

• Cockapoos: ears, skin, gut and eyes. Battersea says Cockapoos can have itchy or sore ears and skin, often linked to allergies, that ear infections are common, that they are more likely to have long-term digestive issues, and that they can inherit progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an eye condition that causes gradual sight loss.
• Cavapoos: the heart. On the Cavalier side, PDSA calls heart conditions, most often mitral valve disease, "a big problem" for Cavaliers, and The Royal Kennel Club asks Cavalier breeders for heart screening as a minimum. Ask whether a vet has listened to the dog's heart.

Battersea says Cockapoos need around an hour of exercise a day plus daily mental stimulation, and that many find it hard to switch off, which can show as barking or destructive behaviour indoors. In a flat with neighbours through the wall, that is worth asking the foster carer about.

Being left is the bigger London question. Battersea says many Cockapoos need gradual training to cope with it, and DoodleAid asks on its application how long you would leave the dog alone and how often. If you commute, tell the rescue honestly how the dog's day would be covered.

Rescue doodles are adopted, not sold. You apply, the rescue picks the home it thinks suits the dog best, and you pay its adoption fee. Puppies do come into rescue, but you can't plan on one, so be open to an older dog.

If you decide to buy, Battersea says demand has fuelled puppy farming and poor breeding, and to choose a breeder who health-tests both parents and knows their lines. Dogs Trust suggests talking to your vet first, as some practices offer pre-purchase consultations on likely health conditions and rough costs, and The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service. If an advert looks like a scam, report it to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud).